New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the National Rife Association (NRA) deserves some of the blame for last week's massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

"We're not trying to take away your right to advance the interests of gun owners, hunters, people who want to protect themselves," Bloomberg told ABC News in an interview set to air Friday. "But that's not an absolute right to encourage behavior which causes things like Connecticut. In fact, Connecticut is because of some of their actions."

The pro-gun lobby was silent in the aftermath of the shooting, disabling a Facebook page run by the organization and refusing to reply to press inquiries. On Tuesday, the group issued a statement saying they were "shocked, saddened, and heartbroken" by the shooting and "prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again."

The NRA has a mid-day press conference scheduled for Friday in Washington, where they are expected to elaborate on what gun-control measures they might support.

On Wednesday, President Obama told reporters that he hoped the group would "do some self-reflection."

"The NRA is an organization that has members who are mothers and fathers," Obama said. "And I would expect that theyve been impacted by this as well."

Bloomberg, who has been a vocal supporter of additional gun restrictions, said he also believed the public  including himself  were partially to blame for the tragedy.

"I hold you and me responsible," Bloomberg said. "We didn't pay attention to what our legislators were doing, [the NRA] as well ... we have let our society degenerate  our country degenerate to the point where we have a murder rate that you cannot compare it to other countries."

Bloomberg offered praise for Obama's new task force on gun violence, but said in his first term, the president had "gone in the wrong direction" on guns.

"[President Obama] signed two pieces of legislation, one which lets you carry guns in national parks where our kids play," Bloomberg said. "And the other one, he signed a bill so that you can carry a gun on Amtrak. I assume that's to stop the rash of train robberies, which I thought stopped in the 1800s."

The level of immorality of this guy and his ilk is stomach turning. To blame the NRA, an organization composed of the most lawful and upright citizens in the nation, makes it clear that Blmbrg is on another planet far away from decency.

23
posted on 12/20/2012 8:34:44 PM PST
by iacovatx
(Conservatism is the political center--it is not "right" of center)

Blooming Idiot, same question for you as I posed to the POTUS and Congress; “ If children are our most important resource why aren’t they afforded the same protection as the POTUS, political and wealthy elite? Are you willing to admit you and the anti 2nd Amendment people believe your lives are more precious, important and valuable? A simple yes or no answer will suffice.”

It’s time to put politics asaide and do what’s right for the children. Every teacher in America should be issued a sidearm and required to be trained and proficient in using it. Those who teachers who suffer from hoplophobia to the point that they cannot comply should be required to get psychological treatment for their irrational fear of weapons.

28
posted on 12/20/2012 8:58:54 PM PST
by Hugin
("Most times a man'll tell you his bad intentions, if you listen and let yourself hear."---Open Range)

Like everything else wrong, they will use the courts to mandate unconstitutional laws overtime. Just like the gay marriage agenda(used the courts to gain in roads w/ new laws) as they condition the masses to go along. We are getting so far off the track. Nothing makes much sense seeing these people in power as well as knowing how some of the citizens think and react.

35
posted on 12/21/2012 3:13:10 AM PST
by Christie at the beach
(I like Newt. Our nation's foundation is under attack.)

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